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Sunyani (B/A), Sept. 11, GNA- President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has rallied the support of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to deal with the challenges of corruption and environmental degradation, saying the nation could only develop when those two are confronted head-on.

“If we do not get a handle on corruption, we will not be able to develop our nation,” he stated, at the National Conference of the GBA in Sunyani, on Monday. “By the same token, if we do not win the fight against environmental hazards, especially the battle against the galamsey phenomenon, we will have no nation to speak of.”

The Conference is being held under the theme: “Saving the Future Generation from the Scourge of Corruption and Environmental Hazards – The Role of the Legal Profession”.

President Akufo-Addo also called on the Bar to support the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, in an attempt to take the politics out of prosecutions of past and present public officers. He said though he was satisfied with the constitutionality of the creation of the Office, explaining, “I do not have the last word when it comes to pronouncements on matters constitutional. But it would certainly be remiss of me if I did not satisfy myself on the constitutional aspect, before I put it before the Ghanaian people.”

Thus, the members of the Bar would provide the personnel for the Office, the President said, stressing that much of the Special Prosecutor’s success would depend on the integrity and genuine commitment of GBA members to the fight against corruption.

On the fight against environmental degradation, President Akufo-Addo asked the Bench and the Bar to cooperate with the Government to ensure speedy prosecutions of those allegedly involved in illegal galamsey activities.

“It is important that deterrents are quickly dispensed to reinforce the abhorrence of the Ghanaian nation about the illegal galamsey activities, which threaten our very survival and future,” he said. “Mindful of each other’s prerogatives and duties, I am calling for us, the Bench, the Bar and the Executive, to enter into a grand alliance to fight and defeat the twin scourges in the supreme interest of the Ghanaian people, and in the fight against corruption, for my part, I shall lead by example,” he said.

“We are in it together – the great, noble adventure of self-government, popular government, free government. “Let us put our shoulders to the wheel so that future generations will appreciate our contribution to the making of a successful, democratic Ghana, which guarantees the liberties of our people, the institutions of good governance, the cohesion of our society, the wellbeing of the masses, and the peace and prosperity of our nation. “The Black Star has a tryst with destiny. Let us work together to make it happen.”